Little Baby Patrick

Our baby boy Patrick was born in February 2020. He was been feeding, sleeping and growing well and meeting all his milestones as you'd expect from a handsome baby boy!

On 25th April 2020, ANZAC Day, at 9 weeks old, he was diagnosed with a rare liver condition called Biliary Atresia.

The cause of Biliary Atresia is not known.

It is likely that Patrick will later require a liver transplant.

What is Biliary Atresia?

It is a serious condition (more information on links below), where the bile ducts aren't working, so the bile can't get in to the intestines, where it usually works, to help the gut absorb vitamins and fats etc.

If the bile builds up in the liver, this can cause inflammation and damage to the liver.

Baby Patrick is having a major surgical procedure called Kasai operation on Thursday 30 April 2020 at Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland.

The cause of Biliary Atresia is not known.

It is likely that Patrick will later require a liver transplant.

For more information:

https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/biliary-atresia

https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/b/biliary

For Healthcare Professionals

https://www.starship.org.nz/guidelines/biliary-atresia-ba-guidelines-and-management-of/

To complicate matters, the Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand has seen Mick lose his job. This is due to Covid-19 lockdown having delayed his Residency Visa application assessment, and therefore at present, 30 April, Mick is currently unemployed.

Please help to support Sarah, Mick and baby Patrick in this uncertain time, and in what may be a long road ahead with surgery and potential liver transplant in the future.